Perineal heating lamp



1957 R. L. ARMSTRONG ET AL 2,778,923

PERINEAL HEATING LAMP Filedw Oct. 10, 1955 g .m m r 5% m vmwm M v 0 I L m d MM '7 mmm QM OHM v. 66 8 Fig.3

United States Patent PERIWEAL HEATING LAMP Raymond L. Armstrong, Cortland, and Gerald H. Morenus and George H. Morenus, Homer, N. Y.

Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,368 2 Claims. (Cl. 219-45) This invention relates to an improved self-contained portable heater which is expressly, but not necessarily, designed and adapted for hospital use, by members of the nursing staff, for example, and pertains, as the title suggests, to a perineal heating lamp.

More particularly, the invention has to do with a simple, practical, compact and convenient heater which is appropriately designed to afford both comfort and safety for the hospitalized patient as well as convenience and readiness of use for the nursing staff. in economical form it serves and directionally focuses and applies variable heat to the perineum for relief of pain in postpartum lacerations after perineoplasty, perineorraphy, episiotomy and the like.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention a horizontally elongate open-ended housing is utilized. This is provided with a suitable handle and includes a flat base which is sufficiently large to support the structure firmly on the mattress of a bed. An appropriate heat and light concentrating and focusing shade is suitably supported within the confines of the housing and this encloses a complemental 40 watt reflector base lamp which functions to provide the desired heat rays and light rays in an intended and desired manner. The size in cross-section of the shade is proportional to the crosssection of the housing and allows intended circulation of air through the housing to maintain a satisfactorily cool exterior.

To the end that neither the nurse nor patient need fear burns an openwork grille is mounted in the mouth portion of the bell-shaped shade and constitutes a reliable and satisfactory protective guard while, at the same time, permitting desired directional application of light and heat to the perineum or elsewhere.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a front end elevation of the improved perineal heater;

Figure 2 is a rear end elevation of the same; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged central section with parts in elevation taken on the plane of the vertical line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals and lead lines, the aforementioned housing is denoted by the numeral 4. This is of appropriate material, as are the other parts, and is elongated in form, openended and generally cylindrical in cross-section. The leading or forward end of the housing is denoted at 6 and the rearward or trailing end at 3. The housing also includes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a substantially flat bottom which is substantially rectangular in plan and is of area so that the longitudinal portions or flanges .12 project outwardly beyond the vertical side walls of the housing proper. Thus, the housing has a base which is large enough to prevent it from tipping 2,778,923 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 over when placed on the mattress of the bed. Mounted atop the central portion is an appropriate handle 14 which facilitates carrying and other requirements of use. The source of heat and light is a simple 40 watt reflector base lamp 16 and this is concentrically supported by way of socket means in the rearward end portion of the housing. More specifically, the socket means comprises a screwtype socket member 18 of insulation material having a common circular base 20. With the aid of a compiemental strip or bar of insulation 22 the socket means or structure is handily and removably supported on a strip member here identified as a spider 24. As shown, the upper and lower ends 26 and 28 of the spider are suitably bent and appropriately fastened Within the upper and lower portions of the housing. Bolts 30 are embedded in the circular base 20 and extend through bolt holes in the spider and bar 22 and are provided on their threaded ends with cap nuts 32 thus providing a practical mounting for the socket means and lamp 16. It will be noticed in Figs. 1 and 2 that the width of the spider is appreciably less than the cross-section of the housing and this is intentional so that the vertical edge portions are spaced inwardly from the side walls of the housing to provide ample air spaces. This allows for proper intake and circulation lengthwise of air through the structure whereby to maintain a satisfactorily cool exterior on the housing. Electrically mounted prongs (not detailed) are provided as at 34 to accommodate a plug 36 carried by a current conductor or cord 38.

The aforementioned shade is denoted by the numeral 40 and this is of a length slightly less than the length of the housing and is of a cross-section throughout less than the cross-section of the housing and it is supported in the housing in the manner shown in Fig. 3 so that the desired spacing is had between the housing and shade. T he shade is funnel-like but is here described as generally bell-shaped in form. Obviously, the shade is of a length greater than the length of the lamp and the rearward end portion is gradually tapered and restricted to provide a neck 42 which terminates in a circular collar 44. The collar is internally milled, threaded or otherwise formed as at 45 and is removably and frictionally fitted on the socket member. The body portion 46 is generally cylindrical in cross-section and the forward mouth portion 42 terminates just inwardly of the leading or forward end 6 of the housing' it is provided with circurnferentially spaced L- shaped brackets 50 riveted or otherwise fastened thereon in the manner shown and the brackets are provided with threaded holes to accommodate the accessible fasteners or screws 52. These pass through holes provided therefor in the ears or lugs 54 circumferentially arranged about the perimeter of the openwork grate or grille so. This grille may be of any suitable construction and preferably of the form illustrated. it telescopes into the mouth portion of the shade and constitutes a satisfactory guard and functions to prevent the nurse or patient from getting burned. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the forward end portion of the shade in spaced relation within the confines of the housing. To this end, bolts 5? are utilized. The headed end 60 of the bolt is arranged exteriorly of the housing and the threaded end passes through a bolt hole provided therefor in the shade and is fastened with a cap nut 62. The numerals 64 and 66 designate lock nuts.

The invention disclosed is also useful as an examining light. It may be handily placed on the bed where needed or desired permitting a doctor, when using it, to have both hands free to attend to his examination requirements. Then, too, this invention is constructed of such materials and the parts are so combined that by merely disconnecting the rod, it can be completely sterilized without damage. It can be sterilized in an autoclave without 3 damage to the unit and can be used in bed without fear or burning the bed linen (which has been the primary problem with other devices used in this field of endeavor.)

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily oecur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in concentrating and directing heat rays and light rays to the perineum for relief of pain, a perineal heater comprising an elongate open-ended portable housing having a flat bottom designed and of an area to rest firmly on the mattress of a hospital bed, a spider supported across the rearward end of said housing and having edges spaced from surrounding portions of said housing, electric lamp socket means accessibly mounted on said spider and including a socket member projecting con centrically into said housing, an electric lamp fitted into said socket member, a bell-shaped shade of a length less than the length of said housing and appreciably longer than said lamp, said shade having a tapering neck at one end enclosing said lamp and said neck terminating in an internally milled collar frictionally and removably fitted over and supported by said socket member, said housing also having an enlarged body and terminal mouth portion at its opposite end terminating just inwardly of the adjacent and cooperating end of said housing, said housing being of a cross-section greater than the cross-section of said shade, cooperating means between said housing and shade whereby the shade is supported with all portions thereof spaced from the encompassing portions of said housing, a guard-forming grille supported removably in the mouth portion of said shade, and a handle mounted atop said housing.

2. For use inconcentratingand directing heat rays and light rays to the perineum for relief of pain, a perineal heater comprising an elongate open-ended portable housing having a flat bottom designed and of an area to rest firmly on the mattress of a hospital bed, a spider supported across the rearward end of said housing and having edges spaced from surrounding portions of said housing, electric lamp socket means accessibly mounted on said spider and including a socket member projecting into said housing, a bell-shaped shade or a length less than the length of said housing, said shade having a tapering neck at one end terminating in an internally milled collar frictionally and removably fitted over and supported by said socket member, said housing also having an enlarged body and terminal mouth portion at its opposite end terminating just inwardly of the adjacent and cooperating end of said housing, said housing being of a cross-section greater than the cross-section of said shade, cooperating means between said housing and shade whereby the shade is supported with all portions thereof spaced from the encompassing portions of said housing, and a guard-forming grille supported removably in the mouth portion of said shade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 912,024 Parks et a1. Feb. 9, 1909 1,005,767 Mauger Oct. 24, 1911 2,535,500 Looft Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,226 Great Britain Feb. 9, 19,07 

